Heating apparatus



Sept. "l5, 19.59 R. P. MArrzEN 2,904,098 v HEATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1956 2 Sheefshe'et 1 l 1/ 3"? M mfr, y

Sept 15 1959 R. P. MAlT'zEN 2,904,098

l HEATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1956 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent() HEATING APPARATUS Richard P. Maitzen, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 570,955

3 Claims. (Cl. 154-1) This invention relates to heat and pressure applying apparatus that is particularly designed for applying heat attachable patches to fabrics.

Garments and particularly work clothes frequently become torn and require patching in order to again make them serviceable. There are patches available of varying shapes and sizeseach carrying a thermosetting or thermoplastic adhesive so that a patch of the size and shape to cover the torn part of the garment can be placed over the tear and heat-sealed into place. One of the features of this invention is to provide a heat and pressure applying apparatus particularly suitable for applying heat attachable patches to fabrics comprising a plurality of fabric supporting members, a heat applying member, and means for moving the fabric supporting members and heat applying member vrelative to each other to align the heat applying member with one fabric supporting member while leaving another fabric supporting member exposed and means for pressing the heat applying member and the one fabric supporting member relatively together with the 4fabric therebetween `so that one patch can be applied to one section of fabric while another section of fabric is -being yarranged 'with a patch for later heat-sealing. Thus the operator in a commercial establishment or the like cando a series of patching operations rapidly and eiciently on a single machine with very little delay.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.4 Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 lis a plan view of a second embodiment of this invention;

Figure 4 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a sectional fragmentary semi-diagrammatic view showing a patch in place spanning a torn place in a fabric.

The heat and pressure applying apparatus of the embodiment of Figures 1 and Z comprises a generally triangular base i providedr adjacent to the angular corner thereof with a combined post and housing 11. Pivotally mounted about a bolt 1-2 on the top of this housing 1=1 is a radial arm 1-3. This arm is reciprocable from one side to the other. Thus as illustrated, the arm 13 is reciprocable Ifrom the position shown in solid lines in Figures l `and 2 to the position shown in broken lines in the same iigures and back again.

The outer end of the arm 13 carries a huid-operated, such as air-operated, cylinder 14 carrying within the cylinder a movable piston 15. A space above the piston 15 is connected to a source of fluid such as air under pressure by means of a fluid line :16. Flow of air through the line 16 into the cylinder 14 and venting of the uid from the cylinder are controlled by means of a standard 12,904,098 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 plate carries an electric resistance heater (not shown) of' ordinary and customary construction.

Mounted on the base 10 forwardly of the housing 11, and preferably adjacent to the opposite edges of the base 10, is a pair of fabric supporting members, here illustrated as padded bases 20 and 21, each mounted on a support 22. These padded 'bases 20 and 21 are interchangeable on their supoprt 22 so that they can be interchanged to correspond to the size and shaped'of the tear in the fabric and thus to the patch intended to cover this tear. As illustrated, with the padded base 21 this interchangeable arrangement may be provided by having the bases 20 and 21 carry a plurality of downwardly extending pins 23 adapted to engagecorresponding holes in the base support 22.

In order to provide stops to determine the extent of reciprocation of the radial arm 13, there is provided a pair of stop members 24 mounted on the base 10 on opposite sides thereof. Each stop member carries an electrical switch 25 that is adapted to be closedl as illustrated on the left side of Figure `l by contact of the arm 13 with the switch. Each electrical switch 25 is in the circuit to the valve controlling the llow of -air through the line 16 so that it is necessary for the arm 13 to be turned to a position where the presser pla-tey 1-9 is'directly above a base 20 or 21 before the air cylinder 14 and piston 15 arrangement will operates The electrical circuit is not illustrated here as such a circuit is -purely conventionalin structures of this type. f i

Mounted on top of the air cylinder y14 for movement therewith is a pair of outwardly extending handles 26. Mounted adjacent to each handle 26 is a finger-operated switch 27 also in the electrical circuit to the controlvalve for the air supply through the line 16.Y

The housing l11 upon rWhich the oscillata'ble arm 13 is mounted also contains the various indicating and control instruments in addition-to 'the switches 25 andv 27. Thus, the housing 11 can contain an adjustable timer 37 of ordinary construction to regulate the period of operation of the air cylinder 114 to determine the time during which thepresser plate 19 is held against the Afabric during each cycle of operation. The construction and operation of this timer is purely conventional. t Y

In addition, the housing 11 has mounted thereon a temperature gauge 28, which indicates the temperature in the presser plate 19. This gauge is to insure that the temperature is proper so thatv the patch will be secure. The housingalso has mounted thereon a pliot vlight 29, which indicates when electricity is flowing to the electrically heated presser plate 19.v In addition, there is provided an ordinary electric socket 30 for connecting the apparatus to'a source of'electric current through an ordinary electric lead (not shown).

Inusingthe apparatusof Figures l and 2, a torn piece of fabric with a heat attachable patch thereon isA arranged, for example,"on the base 20 which is of proper shape and size to accommodate the torn piece of the fabric and the patch. The timer 37 is set for the necessary time'to secure proper adhesion of the patch. 'Ihe operator vthen grasps the two handles 26 and moves the arm 13 to the position shown in the drawings so that the arm bears against and closes the contact 25. The operator, with both hands on the handles 26, then closes the switches 27. These switches are spaced apart a distance so that two- 3 hand operation is required in order to close these switches. This isa safety measure so that the operators hand will not be caught by the descending hot presser plate 19. As the switch 25 has `been closed by the arm 13, the closing ofthe two switches 27 causes Vair under pressure-'to Iflow tin'oui the air line 16.4 This air pressu`re--operating against the piston v presses the presser plate 19 against thepadde'd base 20 with the fabric therebetween. This pressure is maintarn'ed for a period of time corresponding to that'set previously by thev adjustable timer 37.

the heating cycle, the operator arranges another falb'ric the torn place on the Ybase 21 and places a patch thereon. Then as'isoon as the heating period ends, the airpiessure within the cylinderI 14l is released so that the spring I7 the'piston to its initial position. This reieasc is automatically'accomplished by the timer 37 the circuit to an electric relay (not shown) of ordinary'construction controlling the valve in the air line 16. r`As out above, this valve and its operation ispurely conventional and, thus, is not illustrated here.

After the presser plate 19 `has been raised, vthe operator then againgrasps the handles 26 'and rotates the arm 13 to position shown in dotted lines in Figures l and 2, where the presser'plate 19 is above the second padded base 21 with'the fabric and patch thereon. The operator then lrepeats the procedure here. Then during this heating cyclethe operator removes the patch and fabric from the first padded base and arranges another fabric and patch combination on' this base ready for operation-again here. Thus, a singleoperator using a single apparatus cana'pply heat attachable patches quickly and efficiently ma series'cftorn fabrics as the operator'is able to utilize thetimespentin heatingany patchand `fabric combination for 'a new fabric and patch inV position to be itself heated in yregular turn. Y

f Ine'e'mbodiment shown' in Figures 3 and 4, the presserV plate supportremainsxed while the fabric supportsare oscillatable. Thus,inthis embodiment there is provided 'a A-generally U-shaped base 110provided with an upturned ange 11011 at each endthereof vand a pair of switches-125 on eachllange.vr Mounted on the base 110 is `a par'of arcuate, substantially parallel rails 31'. Oscillambly `mounted' onthese rails for movement therealong is im arcuately shaped platform- 32 carrying on its bottom surface two sets of aligned wheels 33 adapted to roll on the rails 31. Because of thesefwheels 33, the platform 32 is reciprocably movable in anarcuate path on the base H0.v This base 110 carries a pair ofspaced padded bases 20 andZI mounted on supports 22 which are the same as the' bases and suppnt'sl 20, v21,and 22 in the embodiment in -Fig'ures l andi. Y f

Mounted at the rear o replatform 110 is a bracket 34 including an overhanging armV 3'5- extending forwardly above the pathof-mo'vement -ofthe arcuate platform 32. arm 35' on its forward end carries an air cylinder 14 containing a vertically reciprocable pistonY 15 mounted on the ydownwardly extending' shaft 18 carrying on its lower end the electrically heated presser plate19. The cylinder,

piston, shaft,` and presser'plate of this embodiment are thesarne as those of the rst embodiment.`

oscillatable platform 32 carriesa pairof spaced handles 126 for moving the platform on its rails 31. handle 126 has associated therewith a switch 127. These switches are similar in construction and operation to the previously described switches'27'in the embodiment ofFiguresr' 1 landY 2.: .'Thus,; the switches 127 must be both dosedbeiore the air cylinder 14 canbe operated through the air line 16. 'Ibisis a safety precaution. ,This embodiment also should include an adjustable timer, a temgauge, andpilot light similar to the timer 37,

gauge 28, and light 29 of the rst embodiment. In addition, the air supply and the electric circuitv will be the same as that previously described.

Again, in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, a torn fabric with a patch thereacross may be heated on one base 2l) or 21 by the air pressed presser plate 19 while another fabric and patch are being arranged on the other padded base. The bases 20 and 21 are selectively arranged beneath the presser plate 19 by the operators moving the platform 32 on its rails 31 to lthe proper position. As previously described, when the platform 32 is in proper position, it will close a control switch so that the apparatus can be operated. If one of the control switches 125 is not closed by the platform being in proper position, the apparatus will not operate.

In Figure 5, there is illustrated semidiagrammatically a thermally applied patch spanning a torn place in a fabric. As is shown here, the fabric 40 is arranged with the edges of the torn opening closely adjacent to each other. The patch 41 is positioned against the fabric so as to etend across the torn opening.

VHaving described my invention as related lto the embodiments shown in the/accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope'as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim: l

Vl. Heat and pressure applying apparatus particularly for applying heat attachable patches to fabrics, comprising: a base member; a pair of spaced fabric supporting members ofV small size relative tothe base member operatively supported on but spaced ,above said basemember; a heat Iapplying member operatively supported on the base member normally spaced above but adjacent to the fabric supporting members; means associated with at least one of the heat lapplying member and fabric supporting members for impartingv relative movement to the heat applying member land the pair of spacedv 'fabric supporting Vmembers to bring the heat applying inemberin linear alignment `with a selected Aone `of the supporting members, A.thereby leaving the other ,'fabricfsupportiug member exposed; manu-ally controlled means operatively supported on the base member and operable independently ofthe moving means for pressing the` heat applying member against said one fabric supporting member with the fabric therebetween; and a pair of safety electrical switches separated fromV each other to Yrequire manipulation by both hands of'an operator in order to Yoperate said apparatus, saidpair of switches being mounted on the movable one of said heat applying member and plurality of fabric supporting members. v

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein thepair of fabric supporting members are fixed in position and the heat applying member is arcuately movable between positions vertically overlying the supporting member.v A

3. The apparatus of claim l wherein the heat applying'member is fixed against substantial lateral movement and the pair of fabric supporting members are arcuately movable between positions wherein each vertically underlies the heat' applying memben l I References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ritchey Ia'n. 3l, 19.33

2,498,541; Galper Feb. 2l?, 1950 2,547,275 Lyon s s Apr. 3, l951 2,651,061 Polleys Q Sept. 8,1953 Winchester etal'. Oct. I9, 1 954 

